Jane Miller: Tires at Indy may be another test

Goodyear has run three tires tests at Indianapolis Motor Speedway since the fiasco at the Allstate 400 at the Brickyard last July, including one with four drivers last week.

Though the drivers who battled rain at last week's test say progress has been made, most agree it isn't enough.

According to the Charlotte Observer, NASCAR Sprint Cup Series director John Darby said teams were still getting only about 12 laps before their tires were worn out.

While that's better than the five or six laps drivers were getting in last year's race, it's still not a full fuel run.

So now the exclusive tire provider of NASCAR is bringing the same four drivers - Ryan Newman, Matt Kenseth, Reed Sorenson and Brian Vickers - back this week for yet another test.

A final session is scheduled for June 15-16.

"I think there's some work to do," said Kenseth on Friday. "I'm not really sure what they'll do or bring. I know when we tested last October, they had a tire that was a little faster than they'd like, but it wore really good. We actually ran 30 laps - a full fuel run on it - and they didn't bring that back (for last week's test)."

Kenseth said the tire Goodyear brought last week was similar to the one used in the 2008 race and would wear to the cords in 12 laps.

"We didn't really see anything that was ideal," said Newman. "The track was fine and grip was good. The cars drove good. We're just still working on getting the ideal tire for the race track."

Kenseth said he doesn't quite know what to think about what might happen with the Indy tires going forward.

"I'm not really an expert on tires," he said. "I was optimistic after October's test that they kind of knew what they did wrong and they found a tire that was soft enough where it would rubber the track up and work and all that. Now this Wednesday, I didn't see that tire. We ran a tire that acted a lot like we were there last time that turned into dust and didn't really rubber the track up and wore out in 10 or 12 laps, so the stuff we had last October seemed pretty good.

"They're gonna go back to work and I think we're actually going back this week for a day to try some more stuff, so I'm sure they'll get it."

More than 200,000 race fans sure hope so.

Gateway upgrades

With the NHRA O'Reilly Midwest Nationals next weekend at Gateway International Raceway, workers at the Madison track are putting the finishing touches on some major upgrades to the facility.

This is the first time the NHRA has raced at Gateway since Scott Kalitta's death last June. Because of that tragedy, most of the upgrades have been concentrated on the run-off area.

- The gravel trap has been lengthened by 70 feet with a depth of 22 inches.